ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9609030129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
A pair of undrafted rookies from the University of Virginia, surprise survivors of the NFL cutdown period, must be wondering what all the fuss is about.
The preseason wasn't as kind to a couple of veterans, quarterback Matt Blundin from UVa and linebacker Mike Johnson from Virginia Tech.
Johnson, 33, was vying for a starting spot in Green Bay until he was waived - an apparent victim of the salary cap after 11 NFL seasons, nine with Cleveland and the past two with Detroit.
The Hokies, who had 10 players on NFL rosters to start the 1995 season, are down to seven, despite the addition of wide receiver Bryan Still, who was the San Diego Chargers' second-round draft pick.
Houston elected not to re-sign former Tech quarterback Will Furrer, and Johnson was one of three former Hokies waived. The others were linebacker Ken Brown by Denver and guard Eugene Chung by San Francisco, where reports had him fighting for a starting job.
Chung, selected by New England with the 13th pick in the 1992 NFL draft, started 30 of 32 games in his first two years with the Patriots, but fell out of favor when Bill Parcells became coach and was selected by Jacksonville in the 1995 expansion draft.
Blundin, considered Kansas City's quarterback of the future when he was selected in the second round of the 1992 draft, had little opportunity for playing time or development behind Joe Montana and Steve Bono and was not re-signed after the 1995 season.
Blundin, who played in two regular-season games for the Chiefs, joined Chicago this summer as a free agent, but the Bears kept Steve Stenstrom as their No.3 quarterback and released Blundin. One year earlier, Kansas City had kept Blundin and released Stenstrom.
Other NFL veterans from UVa who did not survive the cutdown period were Seattle safety Tony Covington, Green Bay running back and special-teams performer Marcus Wilson and Houston offensive lineman Jim Reid. Covington started games in parts of three seasons with Tampa Bay.
There will be 17 former Virginia players on NFL rosters when the season opens today, including the undrafted rookies, safety Percy Ellsworth with the New York Giants and guard Chris Harrison with Detroit. Harrison is one of five former Cavaliers with the Lions.
The lone 1996 draft choice from Virginia, fifth-round pick Patrick Jeffers, stuck with Denver. Jeffers once was part of a UVa receiving corps that included Tyrone Davis, who moved to tight end and made the New York Jets' roster this year after being cut in 1995.
Three former Virginia players have been named to practice squads - linebacker Randy Neal with Denver, defensive end Ryan Kuehl with Washington and tight end Bobby Neely with Miami. Chicago placed former Cavaliers offensive tackle Jason Augustino on the injured reserve list, which means he can't play this year but will receive a paycheck.
The only NFL player from The Roanoke Times' circulation area is Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Tim Goad from Patrick County High School and the University of North Carolina.
Wide receiver Gary Clark, who came out of Pulaski County to spend 11 seasons in the NFL, did not re-sign with Miami and reportedly plans to retire.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart: Pros from Virginia.by CNB